Hopper mechanism



Feb. 12 ,.1924.

' L. W. THORSELL HOPPER MECHANISM Filed July 1. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 12 1924.

w. THORSELL HOPPER MECHANISM Filed July 1. 1921 .3 Sheqts-Sheet 2 PatentedFeb. 12, 1924.

LAR-S W. THORSELL, OF WATER-BURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATERBURY FARREL FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, 01 'WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HOPPER IMECHANISM.

Application filed .Tuly 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lass 1V. TrioRsnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hopper Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to hopper mechanisms and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein blanks especially headed blanks, may be automatically delivered in processional order to a chute, from a mass of blanks indiscriminately grouped.

Among other aims and objects of my invention may be recited the provision of a device of the character mentioned with a view to compactness and in which the num ber of parts are few, the construction simple and efficiency and operation high.

The details and arrangement of parts of my invention will be apparent'from an in spection of the accompanying drawings in connection with the description hereinafter contained wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of imparting an understanding thereof.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved mechanism as applied to a thread rolling machine;

- Figure 2 is a similar View, a portion of the mechanism, however, being broken away;

Figure- 3 is a sectional view of some of the parts, taken generally upon line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure it is a sectional elevation of the stripper mechanism, taken generally upon line of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the chute and adjacent parts.

Having more particular reference to the drawings in connection with which like reference characters refer to corresponding parts, 10 designates the body of the machine to which my hopper mechanism is attached and is shown herein as a portion of a thread rolling machine. This machine is substantially the same as is shown in Patent No.

1921. Serial No. 481,863.

n.4, 1918, for automatic thread rolling machines, and is merely shown for the purpose of illustration, as my improved hopper is adapted for use with any other form or type of mal,254:,176 issued to me Januarv chine wherein an automatic feed is desirable. I

Rotatably mounted upon a fixed The hopper standard 19 is pivotally coni nected with the body 10 by the stud 20 which passes freely through a slot 21 in said body and is threaded into said standard. The

hopper standard 19 in its down position is secured to the body 10 by a screw or bolt 22 which passes through a slot 65 in the integral lug 23 and a similar lug 24 upon the body 10. To insure a proper relative position of these parts a stop screw 25 is threads ed through :1 lug 26 on the body 10 and held against one face of the lug 28 (see Figure 1), a lock nut 27 preventing premature movement thereof.

Fixed to one side of the standard 19 by screws 76, that passthrough a slot 77, is a trough 28 having a flaring bottom 29 and movable upwardly through the bottom there of between the walls 69 and 70 integral with the standard 19, is a slide 30 having a pin 31 between. which and the pin 18 is the con necting rod 32. The upper face 33 of the slide 30 is beveled or inclined toward the standard 19 as shown in Figure 3.

A reciprocatory movement is imparted to this slide by the rotation of the crank disk 17 through the connecting rod 32 and when in its down position the uppermost edge of the face 33 is just below the lower edge of the flaring bottom 29 of the trough 28. its result thereof the blanks, which are grouped indiscriminately in the trough 23, roll down said inclined bottom 29 toward the standard 19 and as the slide 30 moves upwardly through the mass of blanks, these resting upon the upper face 33 are carried upwardly therewith.

Near the upper end of the standard 19 and supported upon the shoulder 34 is a plate 35 which is in line with and substantially a continuation of a chute plate 36. These plates are preferably held in a lined position in relation to the standard 19. the plate 35 having an inwardly beveled edge as shown in Figure 3, while the plate is preferably tiat'upon its upper surface.

Parallel with the plate 35 is a similar plate 37 arranged relatively so as to leave a slot 38 therebetween of substantially the same width as the blank. Plates 35 and-37 are secured together and to the standard 19 by the screw 71.

In extension of the plate 37 is a plate 39 having fixed thereto a plate 72, and which is adjustably connected by screws 40 to a bracket 41 fixed to the body 10 by the bolts 42. Some of the screws 40 are threaded into the plate 72 while the remainder only abut against it. Thus the plate 39 may be moved toward and away from theplate 36 by nianipulating said screws in a well known man ner so as to vary the width of the open space therebetween, which space is an extension of the slot 38, thereby accommodating blanks of various diameters The width of the slot 38 stituting another plate 37 ent depth of recess in its inner face thus providing means whereby the slot 38 may be made of greater or less width as may be requisite. Thus the plates 35 and 37 are not adjustable relatively while plates 36 and 39 are adjustably secured. Suitable caps or covers 43 and 73 hold the blanks in proper alignment between the plates 36 and 39 as is usual in devices of this character.

The plates 35, 37, 36, and 39 are at an angle to the upper edge of the slide 30, (see Figure 2). As the latter moves upwardly the inner corner of the slide 30 (left hand upper corner in Fi ure 2) first passes over the top of the plate 37 and pro gressively the remainder of the upper face 33 passes the top of said plate until at the upper limit of its stroke the outer corner of the slide 30 has passed beyond it. The blanks, therefore. as they are carried upwardly on the inclined face are progressively discharged therefrom onto the upper surface of the plate 37 and from thence onto the angular faces 44 and 45 of the plates 35. and 37, and the shanks of the blanks fall into the slot 33 with the head resting upon the top of the plates 35 and 37. From this point they slide by gravity downwardly between the plates 36 and 39, being held in proper alignment and order by the caps 43 and 73 until they reach a delivery point at the bottom of the chute. Thus the discharge of blanks in the slot is varied by subhavmg a differ- 38 from the slide 30 is progressive, those adjacent to the inner corner of the slide 30 being first discharged into the chute and all of the others successively until the completion of the stroke of the slide.

By this means practically all of the blanks lifted by the slide are delivered into the chute. It is essential that such blanks as may happen to lie crosswise of the open space 38 be prevented from passing down the chute and to remove these and all blanks not properly positioned, I have provided a stripper mechanism which consists essentially of a bracket 46 adjustably secured to a lug 47 integral with the standard 19 and having rotatably mounted therein a shaft 48 which is driven by a belt 49 connected with the pulleys 50 and 51 this latter being rotated by a belt 52 connected with the pulley 53.

Upon one end of the shaft 48 are the cams and 55, collar 56 and screw 57. The relative spacing of these cams is adjustably determined by screws 58 that are threaded through the cam 54 and which abut against one face of the cam 55 or a plate 67 placed thereunder. These cams are preferably in alignment with the chute plates 36 and 39.

Pivotally mounted upon an eccentric stud 59 in the bracket 46 are the companion strippers 60 each being provided with a cam arm 61 and a spring arm 62, the latter connected with a spring 63 which is secured to the post 64. The strippers 60 are rocked by the cams 54 and and move in a path just above the plates 36 and 39, being so spaced relatively that neither one interferes with a blank properly positioned in the chute, but will strike and kick off all others which either fall into the hopper or move upwardly over the plates 35 and 37 and by this agitation may again drop into the chute properly positioned, and pass downwardly into the chute under the cap or cover 43. The cap or cover 73 projects upwardly be tween the cams 54 and 55 and the strippers 60, to insure correct positioning of the blanks from the time they pass the strip-. pers.

Heretofore with stripper mechanisms all of the blanks engaged thereby have fallen back into the hopper to be again lifted therefrom. but with this device only very small portion of the blanks are returned to the hopper. This is due to the fact that the upper portion of the slide 30 forms a wall upon the outside of plate 37 as it moves upwardly and as the blanks are progres sively delivered into the chute, the irregnlarly aligned blanks are also successively engaged by the strippers 60 and are driven upn-ard'ly over the plates 35 and 37 and confined between the inner face of the slide 30 and the upwardly projecting portion of the standard 19 so that for the time being the blank cannot fall back into the hopper and by reason of the agitation of the other blanks in this same space many of the former non-positioned blanks are properly positioned and pass into the chute without being returned to the hopper.

As shown herein each of the cams 5 and have a single cam face thereon and these are generally arranged so as not to be opposite each other. By this positioning of the cams the strippers are actuated at different times, one being in motion while the other is at rest, the effect being the same as that of a continuously moving stripper. The number of the cam faces upon one or both of these cams may be increased so that during a single rotation of the cam the strippers may be actuated more than once, or one stripper but once and the other a greater number of times.

As all of the stripper mechanisms are mounted upon the bracket 46, they are re moved as a unit without varying their rela tive adjustments and the position of the respective parts, by merely taking off the said bracket.

By rotating the eccentric stud 59 the relative position of the lower end of the strippers 60 over the top of the chute, may be varied to accommodate blanks of different sizes. This stud'is held in any of its adjusted positions by the screw 68 threaded into the bracket 46.

By reason of the pivotal connection of the standard 19 with the body 10, the entire hopper and associated mechanisms may be tilted, thus making some of the parts more accessible for adjustment, substitution of other parts or other purposes. The mechanism may also'be adjusted horizontally upon the bed 10.

The relative position of the hopper and body is predetermined by the stop screw 25 and after the former has been moved upon its pivot mounting may as a result thereof always be returned to its former position.

A cover plate 66 is adjustably secured to one wall of the trough 28 to close the open space in said wall provided to accommodate the chute plate 39 in its various adjusted positions.

Changes and alterations may be made within my invention, aside from those herein suggested, and therefore I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

'1. A hopper mechanism having a chute, and a slide movably mounted upon one side thereof, said chute having means for varying the width of the open space therein for accommodating blanks of various sizes, said means comprising a fixed plate and an adj ustable plate.

2. A hopper mechanism having a chute, and a slide movably mounted upon one side thereof, said chute being fixed relatively to said slide so that the blanks will travel downwardly therein in a path substantially parallel with the face of the slide, and having means for varying the width of the open space therein for accommodating blanks of various sizes, said means comprising a fixed plate and an adjustable plate, the latter being upon that side of the chute adjacent to said slide.

3. In a hopper mechanism, a standard, a trough connected therewith, a vertically movable slide adjacent to one wall of said trough, a chute substantially parallel with said wall, which progressively receives the blanks from said slide during the upward movement of said slide, and means for stripping from said chute such blanks as are improperly positioned thereon.

4. In a hopper mechanism, a standard, a trough connected therewith, a vertically movable slide adjacent to said standard, a chute, the upper end of which is near the substantial upward limit of the movement of said slide which progressively receives the blanks from said slide during the upward movement of said slide, the upper portion of said slide when at and near the upward limit of its movement forming a wall opposite the upper portion of said standard, that prevents blanks within the space between the slide and standard from being returned to said hopper.

5. In combination, a fixed member, a hopper mechanism having a slide movably mounted therein, means for actuating said slide, a chute connected with said hopper mechanism, and means for securing said hopper mechanism to said fixed part whereby the same may be moved as a unit relatively thereto independently of said slide actuating means and in a path substantially placri'allel with the path of movement of said s 1 e.

6. In combination, a fixed member, a hopper mechanism having a slide movably mounted therein, means for actuating said slide, a chute connected with said hopper mechanism, and means for pivotally connecting said hopper mechanism to said fixed part whereby the same may be moved in a rotary path in relation thereto independently of said slide actuating means and in a path substantially parallel with the path of movement of said slide.

7 In combination, a fixed member, a hopper mechanism having a slide movably mounted therein, means, for actuatingsaid slide,- a chute connected with said hopper mechanism, means for pivotally connecting said &

hopper mechanism to said fixed part whereby the same may be moved in a rotary path in relation thereto independently of said slide actuating means, and means for rigidly securing said hopper mechanism to said fixed part when in one of its relative positions and in a path substantially parallel with the path of movement of said slide.

8. In combination, a fixed member, a hopper mechanism having a slide movably mounted therein, a chute connected there with, means for pivotally connecting said hopper mechanism to said fixed part where by the same may be moved'in a rotary path in relation thereto, means for rigidly securingsaid hopper mechanism to said fixed part when in one of its relative positions, and means whereby said relative position may be determined prior to its movement upon said fixed part and returned to said predetermined position.

. 9. A hopper mechanism having a verti-- cally movable slide, a feed chute near the substantial upward limit of the movement of said slide and at an angle thereto, and means for adjusting the position of some of the chuteparts in relation to the others whereby blanks of different sizes may be accommodated,said adjusting parts being on that side of said chute adjacent to said slide.

10. A mechanism for stripping incorrectly positioned blanks from a feed chute comprising companion ca1ns, stri )pers equal in number to said companion cams and actuated in one direction thereby, which more over said chute and strip therefrom such blanks as are not properly positioned and permit properly positioned blanks to pass thereby, and means for varying the relative position of said companion cams.

11. A mechanism for stripping incorrectly positioned blanks from a feed chute comprising companion cams, strippers equal in number to said cams and actuated in one direction thereby. which move over said chute and strip therefrom such blanks as are not properly positioned and permit properly positioned blanks to pass thereby. the means for supporting said cams and strippers being mounted upon a part sepa-r-- ably secured to the hopper mechanism.

12. l n combination with the feed chute of a hopper mechanism, means for stripping therefrom such blanks as are not properly positioned therebetween, comprising companion rotary a1ns,,com )anion strippers, the latter having parts thereon that are engaged by said cams, and a spring connecting each of said strippers with a fixed part whereby the same are kept in constant engagement with said cam.

13. In combination with a feed chute having side walls which form a longitudinal groove therebetween, the width of said groove approximating the diameter of the shank of the blanks that pass therethrough, means for delivering the blanks upon said chute, and means for ejecting from said chute all blanks which have not fallen into regular processional line therein with the shanks therof projecting into said grooves, said means comprising a plurality of strippers arranged so as to move above the said side walls, and cam means for actuating the same in one direction and yielding means for moving the same in the opposite direction.

1%. In hopper mechanism, a vertically movable slide, a feed chute near the substantial upward limit of the movement of said slide and at an angle thereto, the relation of said chute and slide being such that near said upward limit of movement the upper portion of said slide forms a temporary wall for one side of said chute, and projecting above the top thereof; mechanism for stripping from said chute such blanks as are not properly positioned therein, said temporary wall being so positioned in relation to said stripper mechanism that the blanks actuated by said stripper mechanism are prevented from falling back into said hopper while said temporary wall is in place.

15. A mechanism for stripping incorrectly positioned blanks from a feed chute comprising companion cams, strippers equal in number to said cams and actuated in. one direction thereby, which move over said chute and strip therefrom such blanks as are not properly positioned and permit properly positioned blanks to pass thereby. and means for varying the position of said strippers in relation to said chute.

16. A mechanism for stripping incorrectly positioned blanks from a feed chute comprising companion cams, strippers equal in number to said cams and actuated in one direction thereby, which move over said chute and strip therefrom such blanks as are not properly positioned and permit properly positioned blanks to pass thereby, means for adjustably supporting said strippers,the means for supporting said cams and strippers being mounted upon a part separably secured to the hopper mechanism.

17. In combination with the feed chute of a hopper mechanism. means for stripping therefrom such blanks as are not properly positioned therein, comprising companion strippers. means for actuating said strippers so that they move through a defined path over said feed chute, and adjustable means for supporting said strippers.

18. In combination with the feed chute of a. hopper mechanism, means for stripping therefrom such blanks as are not properly positioned therein, comprising companion strippers, means for actuating said strippers so that they move through a defined path over said feed chute, and an eccentrlc support for said strippers.

19. In combination with the feed chute of a. hopper mechanism, means for stripping therefrom such blanks as are not properly positioned therein, comprising companion strippers, means for actuating said strippers so that, they move through a defined path over said feed chute, an eccentric stud for supporting saidstrippers, and means for securing said stud in any of its positions.

20. In ahopper mechanism, atrough, a vertically movable slide therein adjacent. to one Wall thereof, a chute with an opening therethrough substantially parallel with the said wall, and at an angle to the horizontal, the relative position of said slide and chute being such that during the movement of said slide the upper edge thereof progressively moves across the top of said chute.

21, In a hopper mechanism, a trough, a vertically movable slide adjacent to one wall thereof, and a feed chute that terminates adjacent to the upper limit of movement of said slide, said feed chute'having two plates between which the blanks travel in a. path substantially parallel with said wall, and

so arranged relatively to said slide that the blanks from said slide are delivered progressively to an open space between said plates in apath at substantially a right angle thereto and over one of said plates.

22. In a hopper mechanism, a standard, a trough connected therewith, a slide movable adjacent to one wall of said trough, a chute arranged relatively to said slide so that blanks are delivered thereto at an angle to the length of said chute, having two plates between which the blanks travel, and terminate adjacent to the upper limit of movement of said slide, and means for moving one of said plates in adjustment toward and away from said wall.

23. In a hopper mechanism, a trough, a vertically movable slide adjacent to one wall thereof, a feed chute, wherein blanks travel in a path substantially parallel with said wall, that terminates adjacent to the upper limit. of movement of said slide, said feed chute being arranged relatively to said slide so that blanks are delivered thereto in a path at substantially a right angle to the said path of travel of said blanks, and means for varying the width of the open space between the plates forming said chute for that portion thereof located upon one side of said slide.

24. In a hopper mechanism, a trough, a chute leading therefrom, and a member, for

progressively delivering articles from said trough to said chute during its movement in one direction.

25. In a hopper mechanism, a trough wherein articles are placed irrespective of their relative positions one with another, a chute leading from said trough, and a movable member that passes through the mass of articles in said trough and carries and progressively delivers a portion thereof, irrespective of their relative position one with another, to said chute during the movement of said member.

26. In a hopper mechanism, a trough, a chute leading therefrom, and means for takin a plurality of articles from said trough and progressively delivering the same to said chute during the movement of said means where they are first uniformly arranged relatively to each other.

27. In a hopper mechanism, a trough wherein articles are placed in an indiscriminate mass, and a slide movable insaid trough through said indiscriminate mass of articles andduring the movement thereof picking up and carrying therewith a plurality of said articles without reference to their relation one with another and progressively delivering the same to said chute in such indiscriminate relation during the movement of said slide.

28. In a hopper mechanism, a, trough having a recess in one side thereof with substantially parallel sides with an open end at an angle thereto other'than a right angle, a chute connected with said trough at substantially the same angle thereto as the open end oii said recess and in part forming a closure therefor, a slide movably mounted in said recess, the end of which is at a right angle to the sides thereof, and means for actuating said slide whereby the same at the limit of its movement will pass beyond the said 'open angular end of said recess.

29. In a hopper mechanism, a trough, and a slide movably mounted therein against a surface which will retain upon the top of said slide any articles assembled thereon, and which at one end thereof is angular relative to the movement of said slide, whereby the width of the surface against which said slide is in contact is progressively reduced, thus releasing the articles from said slide, and a chute connected with said trough and receiving said articles as they are progressively discharged from said slide.

30. In a hopper mechanism, a trough, and a slide movably mounted therein against a surface which will retain upon the top of said slide any articles assembled thereon irrespective of their positions relative to each other, and which at one end thereof is angular relative to the movement of said slide, whereby the width of the surface against which said slide is! in contact is progressively reduced, thus releasing the article:

7 feed chute having a slot therein for the travel of blanks; and a member movable \vithinjsaid trough that takes blankstherefrom and delivers gthem progressively to said feed chute in a path at an angle to i said slot.

32. In a. hopper mechanism; a trough; a feed chute having a slot therein for the travel of blanks; and a member. movable within said trough that during its movement takes blanks therefrom and progressively delivers them to said feed chute, said path of delivery of the blanks being at an angle to the said slot.

In a hopper mechanism; a trough; a

' feed chute having a slot therein for the travel of blanks; and a member movable within said trough that takes blanks therefrom and delivers, them to said feed chute in a path at an angle to said slot and at i various points along the length thereof during the travel of the movable member,

34:. In a hopper mechanism; a trough; a

feed chute having a slot therein for the travel of blanks; and a member movable 3 within said trough that takes blanks therefrom and progressively delivers them to said feed chute at a point other than the end of said slot.

35. In a hopper mechanism; a trough; a feed chute having a slot therein for the travel of blanks; and a member movable within said trough that takes blanks therefrom and delivers them directly to said feed chute Without the intervention of intermediate mechanism, the relative position or said chute and member being suchthat the member in its movement progressively passes the chute. r,

36. In a hopper mechanism; a trough; a feed chute having a slot therein for the travel of blanks, arranged at an angle between the horizontal and vertical; and means for progressively delivering blanks from the trough to the fed chute, the blanks first delivered being to that portion of the lot that is in a lower horizontal plane than that receiving the blanks last delivered.

37. In a hopper mechanism; a trough; a

feed chute having a slot therein for the travel of blanks, arranged at an angle between the horizontal and vertical; and means, as'a slide, the portion thereof engaging the blanks being substantially horizontal, for progressively deliveringblanks from the trough to the feed chute, the blanks first delivered being to that portion of the slot that is in a lower horizontal plane than that receiving the blanks last delivered.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

' LAB-S IV. THOBSELL. 

